A Golden Chain

That the first place of the plane, i, may be continued with, k, it must be situated only there where it is, and no where else: for if it shall be situate else where, as in the place m, then it cannot be continued with k. Now then, if the parts must of necessity have their own particular place only, then the whole figure, a, b, c, d, must also be only in one place.¹ And this is that which the prince of Philosophers teacheth, that every magnitude hath his parts sited in some one place, one by another, so that a man may say of them, here it is, and there it is not. To conclude therefore, this must needs agree to a body and to the parts of it, to be in one only place alone. So that the Church of Rome when it saith that Christs body is in many places: in effect they say, that Christs body is no body: for if it be a body, it is only in one place: & if it be in many places, it is no body. They object that God is omnipotent. True indeed, but there be some things, the doing of which agreeth not with Gods power, as to make contradicentia, things contradictory to be both true: of which sort these are. For, that Christs body is a true body, and that it is in many places at once, are flat contrary: because (as hath bin showed) it is essential to all magnitudes to be in one place, and therefore to a body. And God cannot take away that which is essential to a thing, the essence remaining whole. 2. Again, transubstantiation maketh the Accidents of bread and wine to remain without the substance. Here also is another contradiction as impossible as the former: for it is a common saying in schools, Accident is esse, est inesse. It is of the essence of an Accident to be in ⟨p. 655⟩the substance. Now therefore, if the Accidents be, there is also the bread and wine: and if there be no substance of bread or wine, neither can there be any accidents. 3. It holdeth that bread is turned into the body of Christ, and therefore it must needs hold, that Christs body is made of bakers bread, and yet it holdeth and teacheth that Christs body is only made of the seed of Mary. quite overthrowing the former Transubstantiation. V. It teacheth, that a man must always doubt of his salvation: and likewise it teacheth, that in praying we are to call GOD father, which are things quite contrary.

That the first place of the plane, i, may be continued with, k, it must be situated onely there where it is, and no where els: for if it shall be situate els where, as in the place m, then it cannot be continued with k. Nowe then, if the partes must of necessitie haue their owne particular place onely, then the whole figure, a, b, c, d, must also bee onely in one place.